Crude oil futures ended lower on Wednesday after US government data showed lower gasoline demand during the peak summer driving season. Data showed US gasoline inventories rose 3.5 million barrels last week as against an expected increase of 71,000 barrels. Product supplied of gasoline - a proxy for demand - was about 8.5 million barrels per day, or about 7.6% lower than the same time a year ago. Besides, worries about interest rate hikes by central banks weighed as well on oil prices. However, downside remained capped as data from US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed crude inventories in the US dropped by 446,000 barrels last week.
Benchmark crude oil futures for August delivery fell $1.96 or 1.9 percent to settle at $102.26 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for September delivery lost $0.43 or 0.38 percent to settle at $106.92 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.